Comments

I must admit that many women in MK say they are millionaires that is not true. I do believe in God First and Family and Career but lets face it MK or any job is a balancing act and to make it in MK you have to work hard the first couple of months. If you are moving up and you can take losing people and shows rescheduling its not a bad opportunity. If you cant stand the nos its time to go elsewhere. Good company, great products, some bad apples in the bunch. If you want to make a lot of money quickly you have to lie if you are willing to tell the truth you will have happy clients and a good unit.

ONLY the 2% or so at the VERY top and I beleive it is counted as lifetime sales, commissions, etc.

I do agree that any JOB is a balancing act, but most professional 9-5 JOBS do not require you to work weekends, nights or have quarterly trips and weekly meetings (after work hours) that you are required to pay for!

Colleen, I do not understand this comment “Good company, great products, some bad apples in the bunch. If you want to make a lot of money quickly you have to lie if you are willing to tell the truth you will have happy clients and a good unit.”

There is reference to “some bad apples” but the first quote in the next sentence, “If you wnat to make a lot of money quickly, you have to lie”. I believe there are more people in this business NOW who may be considered “bad apples” than those who are not.

When the company began, I believe the “opportunity” was genuine. However, with today’s society, I believe some serious renovations need to be made. Just like MK keeping “up with the times” with the recent mineral powder foundation and it having been out for years by other companies!

What do you do when you are not treated properly by a business? YOU GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Successful MK Consultants take GOOD care of their clients and reps and therefore generate enough income to make their dreams a reality. But since MK allows any one to join you will probably meet reps who are not ready to run their business correctly, that is not the CORPORATION’s fault; please read the following out loud… INDEPENDENT Business Consultant.

I would like to be Oprah OR Ellen..VERY RICH women. yet they worked HARD to get where they are, just like MK, we can go to any level we choose. It IS un fortunate about those bad apples..I have encountered this recently..but I think if I were going to buy a mustang and the first salesman I encountered was WAY to pushy, I dont’ think it would keep me from buying the mustang, I would go someplace else and find someone I would like to buy from. It’s REALLY about truly caring and becoming more than a “salesman.”

Was in Mary Kay the first time over 10 years ago….. Yep they said it at the meetings… LOL that is really laughable.
I love the products and the only recent I decided to come back is FOR THE PRODUCTS not some of these shady consultants. Even though Im signing up as mainly personal use I do plan to do some marketing on limited and passive basis by sharing catalogs every quarter. If I sell something it will be a bonus and my expectations is not to make this a major money maker but just one of my several streams of income.

Colleen says:
If you are moving up and you can take losing people and shows rescheduling its not a bad opportunity.
If you want to make a lot of money quickly you have to lie if you are willing to tell the truth you will have happy clients and a good unit.Jacob says:
please read the following out loud… INDEPENDENT Business Consultant.

Colleen, if the opportuity is only good if you lie, that’s not the way I want to live my life!
Jacob, obviously you know nothing about Mary Kay, because the contract is full of rules and regulations that prohibit you being and Independent Consultant…it is Mary Kay’s way or the highway. Every avenue of income has a Mary Kay made roadblock on it. Next to impossible to succeed, especially if you want to be ethical and completely honest!

Lipstick through all these posts I do not see you as a woman who would lie and cheat and steal to get yourself ahead. That is a bit of an unfair statement that it is next to impossible to succeed. You can succeed if you don’t get stuck in the clouds and make WISE business choices. Just throwing that out there. Not impossible….challenging…yes!

Good grief, Ashley! Did I say I would lie and cheat to get ahead? My point exactly! I don’t see you living your life that way either!
I did try ethically for 8.5 years…just didn’t work for me! I’ll never say I made the wisest of business choices, MK like everything else was ruled by my heart and the very large part of me that just jumps right in there in the middle and believes that others would not lie or steer me wrong to make a buck. Perhaps a bit naive, but that’s me, believing the best of everyone.

No no I guess I didn’t complete my whole thought there (stupid boyfriend talking to me while I type). I meant I read your story and you said you were pretty succesful with certain doubts and stuff like that. I wasn’t trying to put you down but give you a compliment. You are NOT one of those women who do those horrible things to get ahead.

Ashley, the thing is that Lipstick is saying she tried to make a go at it and WASN’T successful. In part that “failure” was BECAUSE she tried to do it ethically (correct me if I’m wrong Lipstick.) I personally have WAY more respect for those who “fail” honestly, than those who “succeed” dishonestly. She is basically saying beware. Some of us have decided to still try and are using her advice to navigate what could be treacherous waters.

Thanks for the explanation, I didn’t think you meant it to sound that way! I just posted that because I don’t think I was stupid, just let my emotional side take over and trusted that I just needed to work harder, get the right attitude, etc.
MK can be kind of like a cult and I was taken in so easily by the religious and positive rhetoric that is so much a part of the MK unit meetings and training.
I’m not saying lunamom or Ashley that you are naive enough to fall for it like I did, but it made it easy for me to let down my guard and believe that “christian” women would not lie or mislead anyone. I think that God must be very sad the way some of these ladies use faith, His word and His name to further their business.

Hey Lipstick…sleepwalking son woke me (yes for real this time.) Anyway, I’m up soooo why not check out this site. : )
I wanted to say that I had pondered what you just stated Lipstick. I agree with it. I just happen to be more jaded and not so trusting on things like these. I automatically had a level of distrust on the things that were being said to me. (LONG story on that issue. I might post on forum.) Anyway, it’s not that I think that my SD or recruiter are bad. I don’t think that because I really don’t know them, and they haven’t given me a reason to believe that. Although, they did try some of the “scripts, and lines” to get me to buy more. I didn’t sense that they were wholehearted in their attempts though. Sort of like they were going to give the scripts a shot, but they didn’t work and didn’t bother to try another. Anyway, I do think that when I was younger and more trusting, I probably would have fallen for that or some other situation if I felt someone was an honest spiritual person. I think that because they use God so much as a company, it attracts spriritual type people who are automatically more willing to believe in the good of others. They must change this or IMO they will start to have some serious problems in the next few years. I mean, in the past there weren’t websites like this or even the more negative one. People nowadays will disregard them as a company and opportunity if they don’t change at least some things. Now, I DO believe they are trying. i.e. I haven’t had anyone say that I should change product because the packaging is different. As a matter of fact, one of my bonuses for signing on when I did included the eye-make up remover. All the ladies in my unit sell the old packaging and when they need to restock THEN they get more. Also, I think I noticed one of your old quotes that stated that the limited edition stuff didn’t have samples. That isn’t the case anymore. The latest spring/summer collection did have samples. Also, thanks to sites like these, more ppl are saying to themselves “why do I have to wear hose?” I don’t. I just make sure I’m professional and comfortable. It has worked for me. I might at a courtesy wear them to events IF I ever decide to go, but that is simply that…a courtesy. Since I’m my own “boss,” I’ll wear what I want thank you very much….Anyway, I think that more people will start to research and will be able to make better choices based on websites like these. So just my two cents.

lunamom, glad to hear that they have brought samples back for Limited Edition items. When I first started they had samples on all items, including Limited Edition and then they discontinued samples for Limited Edition items. It helps if you can “try” before you order. They encouraged IBC’s to use full size product for sampling and use it as a tax write off. IMO that was because MK could boost their sales and do away with samples for Limited Edition items…they no longer had to “guess” like the IBC, how many to producebuy and get stuck with the leftovers.
The bad thing about packaging changes and discontinued products is that they do not appear in the look books or on MK’s web site any longer. You can keep them on your website but you have to remember to add them and you can’t keep them on the web site until your inventory is gone. There is a time limit, but I am not sure what it is, also you can’t post a reduced priced for “clearance”.
Oh and I don’t think most SD’s and recruiter’s are bad, I think it is the way the company (MK) trains them and how they use the scripts to manipulate people. MK is big on using the emotions and the “excitement” of the moment .

As for wearing skirt and hose…in our unit you were pointed out as not being a properly dressed and promoting the image of MK as a business for “professional” women. No excuse like OT on the real job or a Dr appt for a sick child was acceptable. The comment would b be made that “Anyone can carry a pair of pantyhose, proper shoes and your MK ” dress” with you and change in the restroom before coming to meeting.” GAG me with a spoon!

Hey Lipstick…ahh yeah…see you are soooo much nicer than I am ’cause I would’ve gone off on someone saying that to me. Believe me that there are many in our unit who don’t go in proper attire. Now those on the “career track” do. It seems to me though, that they are realizing at least in my unit, that they need us noobies. There are several who have demanding jobs and what I have always heard was “Glad you could make it. ” One really nice Director did comment on the issue in a very nice way, but again…ya need us. So… many, many ladies are starting to really bend those rules. At least in my area. Now, if I ever feel the desire to attend big events, then I think I will out of respect wear the appropriate attire. (I’m really good at “cheating” with knee-hi’s though, and wedges are a plump girl’s best friends!) I mean, at my last job, the uniform was the most unflattering polyester pants in the history of the world and shirts tucked in! Can u imagine! They were this God awful blue, so I looked like a plump blueberry. Ugh! Sooo…I don’t usually hold classes at our center, and it just happens that way. I mean if I did, then I might wear the appropriate attire, but I don’t so I just wear professionally comfortable clothes. BTW, I got compliments today on my Sally Hansen Gray by Gray nail color…tres chic if I do say so myself. 🙂 Anyhoo..I think if someone goes dressed well and with slamming make-up, then you’ll be just fine. And MK CAN do very modern and slamming make-up. I’ve done a much praised smokie eye with our stuff…sold some eye-liners that way. 🙂

Well i am currently deciding on whether to return my inventory. I have a list of 5 pros and one con. The one con is that i can sell MK again. But seriously i have done fine without MK for the last 33 yrs of my life. This business is all about scripting, pushing, LYING. and honestly GOD,FAMILY then CAREER is a bunch of hogwash! everytime i started making money, you have to pay for conferences , studio nights , they change the packaging on products., so you have to order more. I wish i would have just placed the 1st $200 order. uuugh i am disgusted that i forked over $4000. It’s not that i couldn’t sell but i don’t even like the overpriced products. My Director told me there are no fillers in these products BS! and that the product sells it’self (only on certain people) when a potential customers breaks out in hives hmmmm..If you are a good BSsser and like scripting you will make it to the top, o/w don’t even bother!
I work full-time with a decent salary, went to do a party with4 guests and walked out after 2 LONG hours only selling retail $35. that’s the risk you take. Then again i had a party where i sold $700 retail, but who wants to wonder what kind of income they are going to make? I have a steady job, with retirement, health/life insurance/dental/PTO. I am secure,My director told me i can quit my job and this FT. What is she smoking crack?Her MK Director position is MK FULL TIME 7days a week. She works nights weekends. And is on a constant roll to recruit, beacuse people like me drop off like flies. She cannot keep her caddy if she does not have a unit of wholesale production of $40,000. Doesn’t she get tired of the scripting? I CANNOT be that fake to people. If there is an unnatractive women who has no social skills and you ae trying to tell her that she will suceed in MK, ummm sorry not goping to happen . Be realistic people! My director told me that God will direct you to the people that need to be on your team, hmmm once again.

escwal said:
“Well i am currently deciding on whether to return my inventory. This business is all about LYING…..”

I wouldn’t even think twice about it. SEND IT BACK. You don’t sound like you are happy and that is what matters most. It also sounds like the people in your unit lied to you so you owe them no loyalty.

” I wish i would have just placed the 1st $200 order. uuugh i am disgusted that i forked over $4000. It’s not that i couldn’t sell but i don’t even like the overpriced products.”

This is another reason why I wouldn’t even think twice about it. If you don’t like the products, then people can tell that. I like them so I think I can sell them. But that is just me.

“I work full-time with a decent salary, went to do a party with4 guests and walked out after 2 LONG hours only selling retail $35. that’s the risk you take. Then again i had a party where i sold $700 retail, but who wants to wonder what kind of income they are going to make?”

I don’t think Mary Kay will ever work as a full time job. I think it’s just something fun to do that will help with a little bit of money on the side. I would NEVER try to make it a primary source of income.

There are so many stories on here of how Mary Kay didn’t work out. I have to say that it has helped me make a little extra money that has helped me out, but it really has been only A LITTLE money. But I would not do it the way that most SD tell you to do it. I find that I have fun doing this on the side and as long it stays that way I’ll keep doing it, when it stops being fun, then I will stop too. Life is too short to stress out over something like this.

I wish you luck on returning your product. I think you will be much happier when you do.

escwal, congrats on deciding to return your inventory and kmowing MK is not for you!
Your last sentence gave the best advise of all “Just do what is best for you and your family”
and guess what? Nobody knows the answer better than you!

I’ve been in MaryKay 15 yrs+ had to drop out with accident and give up my Clients and start over from the bottom, and that was hard to do. And my Director and a good one got out to have family time and then later started again in her Director job , although I had to find someone else since I was starting out again and a lady I knew approached me to join up with her and stated she would help me to get all going again ,so I joined up with her,,,,,well months later things changed;
I started out good progress , then became sick again and had to drop down on my quotas and until could get it back up again on ordering status; then a Client of mine was new I brought into MK products and with a good order and she’s a continuing client. IAlrhough I was told by my Team Leader her order had to be done through her and I received nothing for any credit from my Client, but then few months later my Client ordered again and it was from the Team Leader and not me and also other friends of my Clients ordered from this Team Leader , nor telling me anything about it. So I knew my Client would be needing to order so I ask her finding out it went to this Team Leader and I received nothing again ; This Team Leader did not call to ask nor to discuss with me just took the orders. We would see each other weekly, And would ask me about my ordering but never tell me about my Client/friends ordering from her , I confronted each and Client told me she didn’t think I had products due to my health illness at this time, so ordered from T Leader then I ask T Leader and she said she knew my status so she took care of my Client but when I got back up again she would give me my Client back ! I was shocked that either would do this and now that I’m up again I need to put in good order but I don’t know what to do with. Sing under her and how to get my Client back and what can be done to stop this dishonest Team Leader or see how dhe can continue doing this to her fellow MK Clients as (me) and also My Client away from me ,,, I’ve never seen or been involved in anything like this or treated this way especially by a MaryKay Business Partner , one I trusted and been part of for years and proud to be, but how do you handle this situation or if anything am be done ? Please open for any advice.